MRI tomorrow what to expect?

[amy-28]

Hi has anyone had an MRI for the endo? i have it tomorrow and I'm a bit freaked out what can i expect and do you have to have the iv of dye for endo MRI?

Thanks xxx

[Hidden]

Hi, I had mri a couple of weeks ago and there was nothing to it - it lasted about 40 minutes and the hardest part was keeping still. It is a noisy scan so you will wear headphones with music to drown out the banging noise and the radiographer speaks to you intermittently through a microphone. The table you are lying on moves in and out the scanner as you are lying on it. They didn't use dye this time, however, I have had dye previously which was ok as well. As the dye is put through the venflon in your arm it gives you a warm sensation and the feeling as though you have passed urine (which was a bit strange!!). Please try not to worry about the scan, it'll be over in no time and you will be another step forward in dealing with the endo. Good luck.

Regards

Sid xx

[amy-28 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Sid that has made me feel much better! xx

[Hidden in reply to amy-28]

Considering the many things us women need to go through an MRI is easy!! Let me know how you get on xx

[amy-28]

Thank you i have my 2nd lap on friday so was thinking hopefully this the easy part haha just got a bit nervous as never had one before! thank you ill let you know how i get on xx

[Fran84]

Do the mri scans actually show the endometriosis up? I'm waiting for the date for mine as might have to have a hysterectomy as currently on prostap which is helping the pain loads but having alot of side effects too which are horrible. They used to say the only way to know if u have endometriosis is via a laparascopy so why didn't they suggest a mri instead of major surgery like that? Thabks

[amy-28]

Hi Fran, ive had a lap 6 weeks ago with general gynea and a 2nd booked for friday to remove endometrioma cyst now with BSGE but i have stage 4 endo and they think i have a mass of it near my bowel i think they said so will be having a bigger op in a few months but the dr said to have the MRI too to show the mass and how deep the endo has gotten so we know what we are dealing with for the bigger op. So hopefully will get some more answers from it and know exactly what and who i will need at the next op xx

[Hidden]

Hi Fran/Amy,

I had an endometrioma removed from right ovary and excision of endo 12 wks ago + consultant requested an MRI post op to determine extent of endo infiltration around and through bowel wall -during the op he said he could only see so far down towards rectum and couldnt excise any more in that region without a bowel surgeon being present, hence the reason for an MRI.

This sounds very similar to yourself Amy.

Amy....how did the MRI go??

Sid

[amy-28 in reply to Hidden]

hi Sid,

It went good thanks not as bad as i thought it would be, so do you have an appointment for your 2nd op now? i have one on friday just to get rid of the endometrioma then will have the bigger one in a few months with bowel surgeon too. xx

[amy-28 in reply to Hidden]

Where they able to remove your endometrioma without removing your ovary? Hope you don't mind me asking. The first surgeon said i would definitely loose it when i woke me up from last lap but the BSGE specialist who is doing it tomorrow said he will try his best to save it? xx

[Hidden]

Hi Amy,

Glad you got on okay with the MRI. Poor you having to go to theatre on Friday, you have had a stressful week!!

The endometrioma I had was extremely large, however, surgeon was able 2 preserve my right ovary and also did some work to release my left ovary in order to try to regulate my menstrual cycle which recently had all been to pot. Unfortunately due to the extent of the endo infitration my consultant has given me options none of which I find particularly attractive.

First option is to get as much endo excised as possible in an attempt to preserve my fertility though as I am 45 this isn't really important to me.

Second option is 3 months of Prostap + HRT to see how I would be symptoms wise if I decided to proceed with

third option which is hysterectomy + removal of ovaries + excision of endo + bowel resection!!

For me this is all a bit of a shock as apart from recent haphazard bleeding + years of heavy painful periods/fatigue I have had no indication that I had endometriosis (I just presumed everyone else felt the same as me!!). I was scanned in sept + went to theatre a few weeks later to now be facing pretty drastic sugery, it's not been much fun.

I hope your surgery goes smoothly and that the outcome is a positive one for you. If you are of childbearing age all is not lost if you lose one of your ovaries, i have a friend who conceived with one ovary and went on to have twins!!

Good luck for Friday.

Sid x

[amy-28 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks sid gosh your story is so similar to mine I only found out as had some unusual bleeding in Sep and found out I had endometrioma's as I had been told for 5 years I had bad ibs only to find out in a lap at the end of this November I have stage 4 endo affecting pretty much everywhere and will need a big 8 hour op. I'm 28 and was planning on starting a family so has been a big shock and a lot to take in. Thank you for telling me about your friend hearing positive fertility outcomes really helps. I hope all goes well with you and you make the right decision as I know all have there drawbacks and it's a lot to take in. Xxx

[Hidden in reply to amy-28]

What a coincidence....especially when I haven't posted on this site before and randomly chose your MRI question as something I could give advice on!!!

None of the options we face are particularly attractive but I suppose it's a case of making the best of what we have and working our way through each new challenge.

Good luck and keep positive.

Sid

[martoosha]

no pain, easy and goes quickly...

mine was around 25-30 mins...being still in the tube from your neck down xx

im claustrophobic BUT still managed to do it no problem

[Hidden]

Hi Amy,

Hope all went well on Friday and that you are not too sore. Make sure you are taking things easy.

Sid x

[amy-28 in reply to Hidden]

Hi sid sorry for late reply not been feeling too great, but lap went really well ended up being much bigger op 2 hours longer and he did a lot more managed to save my ovary and both tubes! Xx

[Hidden in reply to amy-28]

Hi Amy,

Sorry you have been feeling under par...surgery definitely takes it out of you. You will be glad to have it over and done with. Good news that your ovaries and tubes survived!! Hope you start to feel better with each passing day.

Sid xx